When it comes to determined behaviour, Alaska’s native brown bears win hands (or should that be paws?) down. From the middle of June until the end of summer, these mighty creatures can be found at Brooks Falls in Katmai National Park & Preserve, gathering en masse to catch pounds of jumping salmon for a tasty supper. As the salmon make their annual migration upstream to spawn, the bears wait patiently to pounce.
By the time the salmon get to the Brooks Falls, they’re tired from their long journey upstream from the ocean, making it the perfect opportunity for the bears to intercept their path and enjoy a feast. However, catching these slippery fish isn’t without its challenges, and you’ll marvel at the bears’ determination to pick themselves up when the salmon wriggle their way back to freedom.
At other times of the year, you’ll be lucky to spot these bears in the wild, which is why this incredible natural moment is so popular with visitors from around the world. If you’re lucky enough to be on an Alaskan cruise during the summer season, don’t miss this event, which not only brings up to 50 brown bears a day to the Falls, but also gives you the chance to glimpse the bald eagles and wolves also trying to get their paws and talons on some tasty salmon too.
You can visit Brooks Falls in Alaska next summer on a Princess Cruises’ nine-day National Park cruise, while trips here also feature on Holland America Line cruises in 2024 and 2025.
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